Batesville Deanery church receives solemn blessing

Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter Father Gerard Saguto elevates the host at the solemn Mass celebrated on Sept. 6 at SS. Philomena and Cecilia Church in Oak Forest after archdiocesan vicar general Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel solemnly blessed the church. Father Saguto is being assisted by Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter Father Mark Wojdelski and Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter Father Father Michael Magiera.

By Sean Gallagher

OAK FOREST—SS. Philomena and Cecilia Church in Oak Forest was constructed in 1874, when the then-Diocese of Vincennes was just 30 years old.

Although he suspects that the church had at one time been blessed or dedicated, Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter Father Gerard Saguto, who currently ministers at SS. Philomena and Cecilia Parish, was unable to find any historical evidence that such a liturgy ever took place.

So Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein ­delegated archdiocesan vicar general Msgr. Joseph F. Schaedel to preside over a solemn blessing of the Batesville Deanery church, and the liturgy took place on Sept. 6.

“I was very happy to be the one to bless and rededicate SS. Philomena and Cecilia in Oak Forest,” Msgr. Schaedel said. “The church has a long, proud ­history but, over the years, times and ­circumstances certainly changed. Now, SS. Philomena and Cecilia has ­experienced a ‘rebirth’ under the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.

“The blessing is timely since the moto proporio from Pope Benedict XVI allowing for even more frequent celebrations of the traditional Latin Mass and the other sacraments using the 1962 rituals takes effect [on Sept. 14].”

An apostolate that offers the traditional Latin Mass began at SS. Philomena and Cecilia Church in 2005. Father Saguto has been the apostolate’s administrator since 2006.

In addition to offering liturgies at the church, Father Saguto oversees ­catechetical programs and the devotional life of his community.

According to Father Saguto, some 60 families regularly participate in the apostolate. Many of them were on hand for the blessing.

“To have a building blessed means to have it consecrated and dedicated solely for the use of God and for his worship. You don’t have these very often,” Father Saguto said. “It’s definitely a milestone for the ­people here to get the experience of a church blessing.”

The blessing had special meaning for Jerry Mersch, who, with his family, ­participates in liturgies at the church.

Mersch and his wife, Sharon, are the parents of 12 children. Samuel, their youngest child, died in 2006 when he was 2. His body is buried in the cemetery behind the church.

At the heart of the blessing liturgy is the praying of the litany of the saints as the ministers and congregation enter the church.

According to Father Saguto, the action is suggestive of the Catholic belief that the worship that takes place in church buildings is a participation in the eternal worship of God in heaven.

In comments made before the liturgy, Jerry Mersch said his thoughts during this part of the blessing would, in part, be turned toward his son.

“I wish we could put Sammy’s name in the litany,” Mersch said. “I know that’s not appropriate. But, still, I can do it in my heart and I’m sure God will be pleased with that.” †